Whereas the Spokane 4 area might have gotten speedy consideration on Choice Sunday, I’d argue the Birmingham 3 area is the true “area of dying” on this yr’s NCAA Ladies’s basketball event.
Headlined by the No. 1 seeded Texas Longhorns, the area additionally options No. 3 seed Notre Dame’s potent guard trio. To not point out a No. 2 seed in TCU that’s accomplished the last word turnaround led by Massive 12 Participant of the 12 months Hailey Van Lith.
Let’s dive into probably the most compelling storylines on this nook of the bracket.
Is Texas Outfitted To Make A Run?
Texas spent a while atop the A.P. Ballot this season, however I don’t suppose it’s too sizzling of a take to say it’s the least imposing of the 4 No. 1 seeds.
Whereas Madison Booker is actually a star in Austin, she doesn’t have the constant scoring prowess of USC’s JuJu Watkins or as proficient of a supporting solid as Watkins has round her.
Whereas Texas cut up the common season sequence with South Carolina, the Longhorns’ 19-point loss to Daybreak Staley’s Gamecocks within the SEC Championship recreation did little to encourage perception that they’ll be the final staff standing on the primary Sunday of April.
So, what made Texas a No. 1 seed this season? Consistency. The place most groups that cycled all through the highest 5 this season stumbled, Texas dealt with enterprise on a night-in, night-out foundation.
The Longhorns earned wins towards a few of the hardest groups within the nation, together with UConn, Maryland, Tennessee and Oklahoma. The Longhorns’ highlights weren’t on the A-block of SportsCenter like another ladies’s groups, however their marketing campaign was nonetheless legitimately spectacular.
Sadly, the one staff apart from South Carolina that gave Texas probably the most bother this season occurs to be within the area with them. Notre Dame handed the Longhorns their first (and solely non-South Carolina) loss with an 80-70 extra time choice in early December. I’d think about that Vic Schaefer and firm aren’t too thrilled at the potential of that rematch within the Elite 8.
Notre Dame’s Trio Too Powerful To Beat?
For a lot of the season, Notre Dame falling to the No. 3 line would have been unfathomable. Hell, there was a time this season when it appeared the Irish wouldn’t even be knocked off the mantle because the nation’s finest staff.
But, after a disappointing finish to the common season and a loss within the ACC semis, the Irish and their star-studded trio of guards discover themselves considerably below the radar proper now. Me? I’m not shopping for it.
For my cash, there aren’t many gamers on this nation I’d take over any certainly one of Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron in a one recreation situation. Interval. We’re speaking about three gamers that may ultimately be drafted within the prime 5 of the WNBA draft, Miles and Citron this yr. Hidalgo in 2027.
Sure, I do know they’ve had their struggles, however March is a month the place expertise typically reigns supreme. If Notre Dame beats TCU, the Irish will make it out of the area. Extra on the Horned Frogs beneath.
Can TCU, Van Lith Full Final Comeback?
The TCU ladies’s basketball program has come a great distance from the place it was final season, when it held open tryouts on campus simply so the staff might end an injury-ridden season. The “Underfrogs” had been a touching story final yr however I don’t suppose anyone anticipated this system to be as dominant because it was this season.
Coach Mark Campbell did a masterful job of rebuilding the staff through the switch portal. The Frogs’ most prized acquisition was equally redemption-minded level guard Hailey Van Lith. It ended up being the right match for Van Lith and the Frogs alike, with Van Lith once more proving her mettle as one of many nation’s finest guards.
TCU additionally added former Oregon State star Donavyn Hunter to a lineup that already included veteran heart Sedona Prince, rounding out a roster that appears absolutely able to competing for a berth to the Remaining 4. The Frogs even have a head-to-head win over Notre Dame this season that proved they’ll deal with maybe the most important menace within the area.
If the Frogs had been to advance to Tampa, it might be a comeback story that rivals a few of the best we’ve seen in faculty sports activities. It will additionally present simply how drastically the switch portal has modified the NCAA W panorama.
